Toxic Tomatoes

Continued from Wednesday’s post…

Food items such as meat, milk, celery, potatoes, are pictured and discussed in “The Dirty Dozen: Top 12 Foods to Eat Organic.” I can’t speak for the fruit, meat, and dairy items listed, but the statements about the vegetables crops don’t strike me as being entirely accurate.

Bell peppers, celery, and tomatoes are listed as having thin skins which in theory allows for pesticide contamination. The description of pesticide use on tomatoes is especially interesting, and is described by the following quote: “The standard regimen of pesticides used on conventionally raised tomatoes numbers 30. Their easily punctured skins are no match for chemicals that will eventually permeate the whole tomato.” After reading this statement I pictured tomatoes as being a big sponge, soaking up any all pesticides applied.

Are all tomatoes (and other thin skinned vegetables) laden with pesticides then? Well first there are maximum pesticide reside amounts allowed on food, described on the 26th. And produce is tested for pesticide residues. The volume of fresh vegetables consumed means that only a small portion of the vegetables are actually tested. A single tomato purchased from a grocery store probably hasn’t been tested for pesticide residues, but other tomatoes like it have. If regulations have been followed then it is likely that pesticide residues will fall within an acceptable range.

The characteristics of a tomato plant and its fruit mean that only certain pesticides can be used. For example say a new pesticide was being developed for use in tomatoes. After testing this product on tomatoes plants it was discovered that the pesticide was able to pass through the skin of the tomato. As a result of these findings that chemical could not be legally used on tomato plants.